I thought about naming this article “Cutting Boards & Candles”, ‘cause if I learned nothing else from Dr. Seuss, it’s that alliteration is awesome. But after getting to spend a few hours with Neal and Amy Salsgiver, it was clear that their title demanded a level of esoteric richness that could do justice to their way of life. 

Neal and Amy are co-owners and creators of Dove Design Co. founded in August of 2021 and still going strong in spite of levels of adversity that cause most people to throw in the towel. They are beautiful people that make beautiful things, and if you ever want to feel beautiful just take a quick moment to peruse their elegant minimalist website highlighting their handmade creations including, candles, cutting boards, and other custom furniture. 

Their origin story is disgustingly cute- meeting at a sweet sixteen party in high school and becoming MySpace friends- and the story of how and why Dove Design Co came to be is also a fun ride. I could happily listen to them passionately describe the details of the heart, chemistry, and engineering that goes into the uniquely refined products that they create. However, what stuck with me most was the tale about how their story as makers almost came to an end. 

Apparently, August is a big month for The Salsgivers, as it was both when their company was officially born and when it almost ended. It was August of 2023 that they awoke to smoke being ushered into their bedroom through the vent. The workshop, less than 50 feet from their home, was ablaze. A lifetime's worth of carefully curated equipment, materials, and projects were largely reduced to ash in a few short hours. 

I could feel my own creator's heart fill with undirected hope as I listened to Neal and Amy describe the tragedy that they now view as a valuable course correction in their life. It was sobering and intoxicating all at the same time. 

“The guys at Fire Station 3 are the best; they managed to save this for us,” Amy said as she gestured to the slightly charred Dove Design Co. sign proudly mounted over the entrance of the new workshop. “The shop fire put everything in perspective,” Neal explained as a somber expression settled on his typically sunny face, “...and I realized, I don’t need to produce, produce, produce,” he finished glancing at Amy with a nod as they shared a look riddled with a depth of meaning that only they could know. 

Theirs is a story of perseverance, the embodiment of so many of those cheesy epithets that we’ve all heard. Trial by fire. Refiner’s fire. The catch phrases that seem trite until you’ve lived through a real life fire. They express a challenging life tenet- the fires will come, we will get burned…but will allow ourselves to be refined in the process? 

I would say that Neal and Amy’s story is a testament to the grounding power of pressing on in spite of major adversity. They continue to bring beautiful things into this world and are seemingly even more beautiful people than ever before. I will never be able to see one of Amy’s candles burn again without feeling like I’m part of a triumphant second act in the life of their business.